By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Humboldt County, IA – Local leaders are taking time to provide recognition for the service men and women of the United State Military this Memorial Day.
Humboldt County Supervisor and Commander of the VFW Post 5340 David Lee hopes everyone will join him in recognizing the fallen veterans:
“I would like to thank the veterans that gave their life. Whether they was 20, 30 year career veterans or whether they was a two or four year veteran, I want to thank them. Because without them we wouldn’t have the freedoms that we have now and I think everybody should thank the veterans for the job they do and support them.”
Humboldt Police Chief Joel Sanders hopes people remember those who lost their lives while serving, as well as the loved ones who lost someone:
“Even in the midst of their anguish and pain of losing a friend, they still have got to go to work and they still got to do things. So I think we lose touch of that on Memorial Day. It’s a fun day, for partaking in a lot of parties and consume a lot of drinks but we may not remember, as well as we should, the sacrifices that gave us the ability to have open discourse and open disagreements and to shout and scream from the streets. That somebody gave us the ability to do that, and so I think that we need to take a step back and remember that better.”
Chair of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisor, Rick Petersen, says he appreciates all the military has done and hopes others will take time to reflect:
“We appreciate all the work that’s been done in the cemeteries. The flowers, the flags, they look great. The military service, that people have sacrificed their lives for is been greatly appreciated. It’s a great weekend to get out and show your appreciation by touring these cemeteries and realizing what people have done for our country in the past.”
Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger says he has an abundance of respect for the sacrifices made by the those in the military:
“I have a lot of respect for the people in the military and such. They’ve given a lot for us, you know, for our freedoms and everything that we enjoy today. I had the honor of speaking at the memorial service here a couple years ago and that was a very big honor for me to be able to do that for our men and women that do this for us and stuff so. I have a lot of respect for them, I love to death, I mean, I just, got a lot of respect for them.”
Humboldt and Twin Rivers School Districts Superintendent Jim Murray says he is forever grateful for those who laid down their lives from the United State:
“I’d say I’m eternally grateful for what they sacrificed so that we can live the great life we have in the greatest country in the world. So, I’m proud to be an American, and I’m proud of our nation, and I’m of those who served and lost their lives and I’m proud of all our veterans.”
While Memorial Day is seen as the “unofficial” start to the summer season and a time to get together with loved ones, local leaders ask the community to think about those who laid down their lives in service to this country.